30 Offensive Rules for Championship Basketball

We love to play up-tempo basketball. Our style of play is to run and attack! We push the ball up the court at every opportunity.

As we push the ball up the court, we look to score – primary break to secondary break, secondary break to one of our set offenses. Our primary goal on offense is to play “Team Basketball.” To us, team basketball is about not forcing shots, making the extra pass, and attacking the basket to pass, not shoot. When five athletes are playing as one on the court, basketball is a beautiful game to watch.

General Offense Rules

Protect the basketball. Handle the ball with sureness. Avoid turnovers.

Make the safe and easy pass. Don’t force passes. Every pass does not have to lead to a score.

Pass away from the defense. Always know where the defense is, and pass away from it. Use a two handed grip as a passer.

Play under control. Don’t have your mind made up about what you want to do. Read the numbers and take what the defense gives you in an organized and controlled matter.

Be patient. Don’t play fast! A good rule to remember is to be quick, but don’t rush. It’s not how fast you go, it’s what you do.

Don’t force shots! Pass the ball when you are well defended.

Dribble with your head up and see the court!

Dribble north and south. Attack the gaps in the defense. No wasted dribbles.

Always know the time and score.

Maintain proper spacing of 15 to 18 feet. Keep the offense high and wide. Perimeter players should stay above the three point line, except of course when executing cuts or screening opportunities.

Try to make three passes before attempting a shot other than a lay-up opportunity.

Catch-and-face. Anytime that we receive the basketball, we face the basket in a “triple threat” position.

Always look to go inside first before shooting outside shots! Our first objective every time down the floor is to go inside. We love for our post to touch the ball before any shots are taken.

Use a jump-stop in the post area. Keep the ball under chin, with elbows out.

Always look to dribble penetrate (slash) to the elbows. We love to play off the elbows offensively (jump shot, draw-and-kick, or kick-out).

Look to draw-and-kick. Anytime a weak-side defender rotates to stop ball, we look to pass to our open teammate. Use a bounce pass in the paint to hit the open teammate.

Get fouled. To win the big games, you must get to the free throw line — and then you must make them. Great players get to the foul line 7 to 8 times a game.

Communicate on all screens. Raise your weak hand to let the cutter know you’re coming to screen for them. As you set the screen, call out your teammate’s name.

Set tough, hard screens. Set your screen on the defender’s numbers (headhunt). The screener should remain in a stationary position for a two count.

Always receive the screen late. Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait for the screener to jump stop & say your name before you begin your V-cut to get open.

Read the defense. Think before you move. Try to take advantage of what the defense gives you. Our cutter and screener must concentrate on their defender and not watch the ball. Cutters should always make their cuts away from the defender and “move with a purpose”.

Move to be a great receiver! As a pass receiver, you must always step to the ball, show a hand-target, and call for the ball.

Backdoor cut when overplayed. When your defender has a foot & hand in the passing lane to deny you from catching the ball, change direction and cut behind your defender toward the basketball with your lead hand up.

Fake a pass to make a pass.

Use a shot fake before you dribble.

Acknowledge (credit) the unselfish pass that leads to a score. “Point to them” — the assist guy. Let the fans know who made the play.

Crash the offensive boards. Players #2 through #5 must crash the boards on every shot, while player #1 sprints back to stop the fast break.

Rebound the offense. We want our shooter to always follow their shot with their hands up. Our other players are responsible for weak-side rebounds. Most rebounds (75%) are grabbed on the weak-side of the basket.